The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstasy ALBUM REVIEW

Listen: • The Last Dinner Party ...
What a banger of a debut!
More rock reviews: • Rock Reviews
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Team: Jeremy - Lead Edits / Anthony - Final Cuts / Austen - Proofing, Posting
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FAV TRACKS: CAESAR ON A TV SCREEN, THE FEMININE URGE, ON YOUR SIDE, BEAUTIFUL BOY, SINNER, MY LADY OF MERCY, NOTHING MATTERS, MIRROR
LEAST FAV TRACK: GJUHA
THE LAST DINNER PARTY - PRELUDE TO ECSTASY / 2024 / UNIVERSAL / GLAM ROCK, PROGRESSIVE POP
8/10 www.theneedledrop.com/loved-l...
Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?

[@jamesburky]

This album was one of the most fun first listens I’ve had in a long time and it holds up so well on returns. Such a great record.

[@DP-ix6bl]

Great perspective. It’s not necessarily a ‘fun’ album, but a fun listen/experience.

[@jamesburky]

@@MostlyLoveOfMusic touch grass

[@michaelhawkins7389]

@@MostlyLoveOfMusic Are you sexist? There are loads of bands where all the members are females ...what is your problem?

[@themilkyman2015]

I’m sorry, but the transition from Gjuha to Sinner was orgasmic.

[@marioandwes]

Anthony Fantano’s Italian bias showing in his omission of this Albanian song!!!

[@erinh.1236]

@@marioandwesI think when he mentioned the interlude he was referring to it!!

[@jadedjade7963]

Missed opportunity to say Beautiful Boytano at the beginning

[@christianjohnston9092]

Beautothny Boytano

[@buttermoth5861]

Anthony you can’t just give them a 0 because you weren’t invited to their dinner party

[@iTzAtaXi]

To be fair it must’ve been their last one.. maybe more exclusive yk

[@AdivBenEliyahu]

Nah it’s okay, there will always be another one Oh wait

[@Mamba4.8]

It was the last one though, his spite is understandable

[@sukmykiss]

They took advantage of lockdown during COVID to nail down their sound and direction and have been touring like crazy since then. Their tour schedule is insane - this is well earned and deserved. Love the album, excited to see what’s next.

[@adamjennings578]

Anthony, you are a LOSER

[@LukasOfTheLight]

It's a bit over-produced and... middle class feeling? To me. Cute enough but I don't know.

[@unknown6390]

It says on wikipedia they specifically struggled to rehearse at all because of the lockdown

[@sukmykiss]

@@unknown6390 “But, right as they started rehearsing as a group, COVID-19 struck. Though frustrating, Mayland calls it “a good gestation period” to really come into their own as a group before going public.” From a Variety article.

[@RonanS88]

Yeah but so do hundreds of other, equally deserving bands

[@madremorelos1573]

Good review but I can’t believe Gjuha didn’t connect with you. One of the more sonically interesting moments on the record.

[@spamsingles5948]

I love how it transitions into Sinner

[@alicebethell8069]

It was hauntingly beautiful live

[@marioandwes]

Just found out about this song and I’m Albanian… bruh

[@Luci.99]

Fun fact: Abigail Morris (the lead singer from TLDP) dates Henry Spychalski (lead singer from HMLTD) and she sang onstage with him a few times. She's also the female voice you hear throughout all of The Worm.

[@hj3563]

Dated I believe, but still cool fact

[@GregKeaton]

what the hell does that stand for

[@NCFCAwayDays]

@@GregKeatonhmltd used to be happy meal Ltd but unsurprisingly they had to change it

[@hj3563]

@@GregKeaton They make a great sound, give them a listen . Also both TLDP and HMLTD are amazing live if you get a chance

[@chappellgroan]

They’re not together anymore.

[@heavymetalheretic5386]

This album moved me, so beautiful and powerful and grand. This is one of my favourite albums in a long time. Glorious

[@nateh9917]

I've seen a ton of people calling The Last Dinner Party "industry plants". Let's just say if they're industry plants, the industry needs to plant more of them. There's so much more to these songs than 99% of pop music today.

[@superwhizz114]

I agree. I don't care where they came from, they're extremely talented!

[@All-ze9cl]

fr, and most of the industry complaints just come from misogyny and people refusing to believe that women can be just as instrumentally talented as men. This happened with wet leg and is currently happening with ice spice, so i try not to listen to the complaints. Because you're right, even if they are plants, the music is really good and I want them to get talked about

[@vision_is_augmented1213]

​@@All-ze9cl I think there's a little more to those 'complaints' or suspicions or whatever than just misogyny, although that is definitely also a part of it. When I see a band that is touring with The Rolling Stones like what 12 months after they where formed(?) I see a band that has had a massive push from powerful executive powers. Which is par for the course in big pop-industry music circles. This band however is sold more like an organic indie underground thing that just happened to blow up which I think some people read as... well like a comercial for an energy drink that's made out to look like an indie movie. I think it's important to not kid ourselves and think a musical act like this isn't essentially just the capitalistic powers that be doing it's thing, only with a different coat of makeup on, and at the same time be very careful not to sidestep into misogynistic pitfalls. Regardless of the quality of the music, I think it's still important to know what's up, and not be made a sucker confusing pretty standard industry critique with misogyny.

[@All-ze9cl]

@@vision_is_augmented1213 you're right, there can be a discussion about the opportunities they're getting without it getting misogynistic.

[@Billiamwoods]

I listened to this the minute it came out because I couldn't sleep and I was really surprised that people were so mad at something so good before it even came out lol. Say what you want about how "genuine" their rise is, just the lyrics are good enough for this album to be worth at least a listen.

[@chromegnats]

Couldn’t agree more. Sometimes things are just good. People just want to whine/complain.

[@grahamkristensen9301]

From what I can tell, most of the "controversy" is just that they're a bunch of rich kids who all met at some fancy university. Same could be said of The Strokes and Vampire Weekend and people love those bands.

[@h0lly_blue]

nice to see this get a yellow flannel, they killed it on the Graham Norton Show recently, can't wait to see what's in store for them next

[@mapper7310]

How tf do you get on the goddamn Graham Norton show before you've even released an album

[@h0lly_blue]

@@mapper7310 they were the BBC Sound of 2024 which I think helped lol

[@KingKam93]

Absolutely love this album. The band's music feels so necessary at this time period and the fact that it's their first album enhances the experience for me. I hope they continue to grow and gain more fortune in the years to come. At this point they deserve all the attention and then some.

[@theeggmcwaffle2594]

So happy you liked this one, pretty confident this will be on my best list at the end of the year

[@niamhl6964]

Saw them live when they opened for Hozier, had never heard of them before but their energy was infectious! And the songs were so good

[@andie599]

So jealous you got to be there for that 🥲

[@flop-00]

was late due to traffic so missed them at hozier, then went to listen to their debut and was so disappointed i missed them lol

[@tdog3753]

there's something super classy about the production on this, feels familiar and modern yet timeless

[@ParasonicxLove]

It's been a hot minute since a full album has me hooked. I'm obsessed with this record and I'm excited to see them live on their tour!

[@LOTWStudios]

So glad to see you cover this album. Definitely my favourite album I've heard in a long time

[@alejotinganell5653]

This is one of those time when Anthony introduces me to great music I connect with I didn't know about before!

[@CreamedCorn2002]

Poorly constructed sentence

[@alejotinganell5653]

@@CreamedCorn2002 Your input is more than welcome ❤️

[@brooklyncullen5048]

This is why Anthony is one of my favourite reviewers... so well spoken & good at getting his point across

[@blotzie]

nobody is talking about how articulate this review is. good stuff

[@ThreeToesofFury]

hazaa! between the catch AF first single from the album AND a Fantanotastico review...instant purchase. Thanks bruv!

[@enoughmusicchris]

James Ford is one of the most underrated producers out there, and I think this record proves it

[@FPSBuzz]

Don't tell Anthony that he's produced 90% of arctic monkeys shit

[@rogertaylor5732]

Id hardly say he's underated as he produces loads of bands

[@perlundgren7797]

@@rogertaylor5732 If something exists, it's underrated. That's just KZbin comment section law.

[@enoughmusicchris]

@@rogertaylor5732 meaning he just doesn’t get credit for a lot of his work - he’s not a name like Antinoff or Ruben, and he should be

[@thegerams]

Is he underrated though? I would consider him probably the most important producer for UK bands at the moment

[@KIRIIRIK27]

I love this band so much, and the album is everything I needed from them.

[@eric690]

Quite the pleasant surprise to see a band whose song is super popular on AltNation get an 8 on their debut. I feel like most artists in that realm either fly under the melon’s radar or are met with lukewarm/negative reception

[@dannybuchanan3661]

Great to see them do so well! They were extremely cool when I met them at a record signing, I hadn't been following them too closely and only really knew that they were supporting Hozier and my sister loved their music enough to send me to get their album signed while she was working. It was uncomfortable telling them I was there to get it signed for someone else and I talked about The Front Bottoms who I was seeing that night and cracked a bad joke about their music that they politely laughed at/didn't understand bc I have a Scottish accent (something about tremolos) and then rushed out so quickly I forgot to get a picture with them. They were all extremely welcoming and talkative to everyone there though and I'm definitely rooting for them. Happy to see them doing so well.

[@Karla-ok9qd]

Love this group. I am looking forward to seeing them live and see their progress.

[@Ravenscannotfly]

The first KZbin critic I've seen to not come at this album with a weirdly cynical lense

[@TrippedGian1]

"Industry plant" is so tiresome

[@Jambobist]

@@TrippedGian1 Yeah it's inane, a record company pushing a band they think will be successful? What a scandal!

[@chromegnats]

@@TrippedGian1right. You could attach that label to nearly any thing that isn’t purely “underground”. Which is also a tired and nearly meaningless term. People just want to be upset

[@PeakApex]

I don't care if they're industry plants, I'm watering that plant, and I'm going to watch it grow.

[@mmik9683]

If this album is a result of some mega corporation pulling strings in the background and making sure everything clicks together then we need more of that.

[@chiselcheswick5673]

Exactly... 👍

[@Jambobist]

Honestly think some people get more enjoyment out of being miserable on the internet than actually listening to music.

[@joaoassumpcao3347]

@@Jambobist I'm pretty sure about that. Unfortunately some people love being buzzkills, which is a really miserable think to be. I personally would love every artist in the world if I could, because loving art is much more fun than hating it

[@raulvillanueva3338]

Gjuha reminds me a lot of Dead Can Dance with Aion, I cant belived that my generation (1998-1999) started to release the new music

[@halkitchen1838]

Loving this album, just behind Future Islands for my album of the year! Genuinely hard to believe this is a band’s debut album, it’s so accomplished and distinctive

[@paulflewitt5599]

If Siousxie or Kate Bush fronted an album by Sparks, this is how it would sound.

[@davejeanes]

With Led Zeppelin behind them…

[@kjux2977]

0:00 good music with them vocals the video is a masterpiece already

[@hardfiled]

This album came up on my Spotify and I have never heard of them but they had over 3m listeners before their debut even launched, which had me curious on what I had missed. Thank u for cluing me in, Melon.

[@oscarmacintyre6007]

Gjuha to Sinner made me audibly gasp

[@niallq8447]

Best moment of the album.

[@chrisberry7293]

Really impressive album. I'm sure even bigger things are on the horizon. Nice seeing a band from the South London, mainly The Windmill making it big! Annoyingly I had a free ticket to go and check them out at a showcase they were doing down in Brighton before they had released any music but got held up at work and couldn't go. Doesn't look like I'll be catching them anywhere smaller than academy's anytime soon

[@bamsgirl12345]

I just discovered them a few weeks ago and I've had so much fun listening to them. Sinner is one of my favorites

[@evanandrews]

Saw them play at Johnny Brenda’s in Philly, which is a small and intimate venue. It was a great show.

[@LifeOfJakoby54]

this record is actually fantastic such a fun listen but has its sadder moments as well the production and writing is just so good and it feels so theatrical the fact that it’s a debut album is true insanity 10/10 imo

[@JessiCocoa]

I’m so excited to see them live

[@pinkbeatle2012]

Great first Album look forward to seeing what they do next.

[@dudemuja8293]

The thumbnails keep getting better!

[@Jambobist]

My Lady of Mercy is an absolute tune.

[@SirTheory]

I've been afraid of this review because I've been pretty keen on The Last Dinner Party since the end of last year and the album absolutely met my personal hype. That said, I'm never sure how a hyped band like this will be received by the critical and music nerd crowd. And when I love an album, I don't want my enjoyment brought down by a bad review (I used to like Olivia Rodrigo's song "vampire" until Todd in the Shadow's takedown of it; I don't hate the song the way he does, but I now think about it every time I listen to GUTS). So I'm pleased that Fantano likes this one. And like him, I think this could be a year-end contender for me.

[@frankhuiskamp2536]

It's so weird to admit it, but same. I was and am still (where is it?) dreading the Pitchfork review, cause this is júst the band with júst the hype they will destroy haha. Then again, I am fully aware how lame it is to project some reviewer's opinion onto my own. I love this album.

[@thegerams]

It’s not just him who likes it. With a meta score of 88, the album is on track to be on the list of the aoty-lists for this year based on music critics alone. It’s very impressive for a debut album. I doubt though that the critics (particularly armchair critics on Reddit) will stop their “industry plant” allegations.

[@alexmacdonald9182]

nice review, anthony!

[@mejk2543]

The transition from gjuha (tounge) to sinner was great

[@my1name2is3genevieve]

This album is so good and definitely deserves the praise and 8 👏👏

[@angelicahr4667]

This album is so good and definitely deserves the praise and strong 8

[@victorfigueroa9976]

Been listening to this album so much. It's so good.

[@LukesPlayStation]

Was so looking forward to this album! Love the band

[@joshbrown487]

Saw this band open for Hozier in december. First time I actually remembered an opening act's name and what their songs were like.

[@Jack-je1zt]

Now I'm hoping that they pull a Black Midi and slam on the gas and release two more increasingly better albums in short succession. Because I need more of this in my life.

[@easyagerard]

My local radio (nyc) and Sirius have been playing their singles for several months. Didnt realize the album finally came out!

[@louisnewton4292]

Which NYC station?

[@easyagerard]

@@louisnewton4292 peak 107.1

[@AySevinExEffOweBee]

Knew this album would pop off once it eventually dropped

[@GuyWhoLikesTheSnarkies1435]

The Smile and this promising so-called "industry plant' group just gotten a Strong 8 from Fantano alongside Future Island, 2024 has started pretty strongly so far😤👌

[@leftovernoise]

I don't care if they are a "plant" or not this shit slapps

[@GuyWhoLikesTheSnarkies1435]

@@leftovernoise Never said they are, I was simply teasing at those people who started the backlash against this group when they came to attention. Apparently, those people just can't seem to accept a brand new group of talented female musicians and started accusing them of being a plant, just because they were immediately signed to a major label subsidiary lol

[@leftovernoise]

@@GuyWhoLikesTheSnarkies1435 wasn't accusing you of saying that, you had the "so-called" in there so I figured you weren't saying it yourself

[@GuyWhoLikesTheSnarkies1435]

@@leftovernoise Oh okay, my bad. Still, I think it should be clarified because sometimes, people can still misunderstand something and I don't understand why😕

[@markstuartwakeley]

Nice one T catch them live if you can.

[@TimSenna]

W of a review Anthony this album is special

[@Steeps444]

Yorkshire post punk band Yard Act have a new album coming out at the start of next mont, definitely a good time to jump on the yard act train

[@alialhashimi4224]

fantano has always been one on the yard act train. gave their debut a 7 and has put all 3 of their new singles in best tracks. he seems to be pretty hyped for the new record

[@pinkbeatle2012]

mirror is actually probably my favourite on the Album.

[@niallq8447]

Like it.

[@GameJunkyard11]

This year's off to such a great start!

[@richardsivertsen7047]

Now it's time for the first breakfast party

[@thegreenrocket]

cutethony pogtano with another incredible op-ed piece on this fine wednesday, today starring the last supper (modernized)

[@madoka1000]

Gjuha being least favorite is actually evil, that song is so full of emotion and beautiful

[@TheRareVideosXL]

Great album review.

[@unknown6390]

Really wish the production was not so contemporary. Hearing live versions with just the girls playing is more interesting

[@Slabvandagda8147]

I like playing a guessing game of predicting where Melon will be scratching after the next edit.

[@jaceastwood5361]

I hadnt noticed the scratching but now its all i can see so thanks for that 😂

[@nateh9917]

The best indie pop album I've heard in a long time. The songwriting is fantastic, it's incredibly dynamic and feels completely natural. There was clearly a ton of time put into making an album, rather than a collection of songs, but also, it's great just as a collection of songs. I honestly only liked Nothing Matters out of the 4 singles I heard, but on my first listen to the album, I liked every song. Super rare for that to happen to me, and it's only been growing. Behind the songwriting, there's a ton of stuff that's super cool sonically. The outro to "On Your Side" sticks out as particularly prog. "Gjuha" is great too. It's just a nice lil pallete clenser, but how often do you hear mandolin on a pop album? I also heard a lot of "This Is Why" by Paramore in the album. I don't know if it's just because I listened to it a ton like a month ago, but the themes of toxic masculinity stuck out clear as day, and a lot of the guitar parts sound like the post-punky guitar parts on "This Is Why" (particularly on Burn Alive imo).There's also a lot to dig into lyrically. I'm not really a lyrics guy, but even I caught how much of the album was talking about gender roles (on like the 4th listen lol). At the start of the video, Anthony listed a bunch of artists that I've never listened to, and at some point he said the album had a few spots that were derivative. That's a fair critique, but since I haven't listened to their influences, it's not as issue for me. I agree that they have room to grow, especially since they can expand on some of the sounds they experimented with on this album.

[@dillpi8866]

STRONG 8 LETS FUCKING GOOOO

[@estervaldez8381]

LOL Like that matters a lot 😂

[@dantv517]

Incredible album still in my rotation

[@thebun91.3]

Oh my god Anthony reviewed the last dinner party

[@alenemarie1726]

I saw them live in NYC and they put on a PHENOMENAL show. Their guitarist is sooo talented and the lead singer has amazing stage presence and knows how to put on a show

[@Nixxxy24]

More pop, but their sound and aesthetic remind me a lot of HMLTD, except their music is as fun as Wet Leg (not same sounds, but energy, also UK origins and hype comparison is very obvious). Extremely fun album, they’ve really nailed the sound and the album feels very well thought out for a debut.

[@dgooz]

Yay i found these women around new years and they have me inspired for this year

[@hugo-ig7kl]

Banger album

[@asora7315]

Should be a 10

[@Theartistrosewell]

Just discovered them, thanks!

[@verbynotro]

I’ve really enjoyed this album since it came out. The singer, Abigail Morris, has a voice very similar to the singer of the Swedish band Sahara Hotnights. They (Sahara Hotnights) also used a lot of the same type of harmonies and big sound. Like Anthony said in the video it’s all very familiar.

[@galennatoli-jimenez4912]

I was called crazy for thinking this album sounded ABBAish, glad to hear I'm slightly less crazy 😂

[@eeblihp]

beginning of Sinner was super ABBA-like

[@marcoVGpolo]

It’s like Brody Dalle was in charge of making an ABBA album

[@niallq8447]

​@@eeblihp although it ABBA like. Their is LCD Soundsystem plus Bowie up the hill backwards there.

[@wiseguy100]

As much as I love the album, their style and sound...I can't get over the fact the singer looks like Rachel Weisz.

[@thatgoldenking]

Yes! And the dresses she wears during performances has me thinking of Lucy Gray from the new Hunger Games movie I love it!

[@patient666zero]

killer record 🍽

[@gregdale1066]

Great review

[@liamtahaney713]

I really liked the album but I wish it went a little further on the non-singles. I felt it lacked a moment that really kicked me on my ass made me say "holy shit." Really enjoyable album though, already been spinning it a couple times over the last few days.

[@sah-win]

Try reading the lyrics to Portrait Of A Dead Girl. And then listen to how the song builds to & through the “give me the strength” section. When it gets to the lines “oh, anyone could kill me, and I’d never, ever let it be you” and that plea kicks in full stop along with the guitar wailing, whoah, that kicks my ass every time. For me, the entire record kicks my ass, but if I had to pick just one, that’s easily in the mix to choose from.

[@sumacmusac]

Nothing matters appeared in my KZbin recs when it came out and I enjoyed it, but I haven’t listened to the full album! This is a sign to do so!

[@telsutton]

Reminds me of good ol' Ladyhawke... strong songs and performances on this debut.

[@smurfette_blues7922]

Finally listened to it and haven't stopped looping. The drama and opulence of some of the instrumentals on this album is the stuff I wanted from early Lana Del Rey and just didn't get.

[@samjarrett8663]

I heard "The Feminine Urge" in a store and thought it was Florence and the Machine and I was hooked.

[@jobe5521]

This dinner party sounds interesting. I bet they had Jobe Mark II.

[@richardgale1287]

They set out their manifesto and they delivered it. If only politicians were so laser-focused.

[@neeko2198]

ITS SUCH A GOOD ALBUM

[@Tysoneko]

Saw a live show on KZbin back in Nov 2022, and immediately sent it to all my friends saying these guys are up next. One of the most obvious observations I’ve ever made, they have just an unparalleled hold on structure and pop appeal without sacrificing an ounce of personality or uniqueness, the most impressive show of talent this early we’ve seen since black midi and bcnr were getting started

[@JPTQJR]

One of 2024's finest surprises First few listens really leaves a strong impression

[@yomo1690]

Got amanda palmer/dresden dolls influences too

[@porqpine53]

Their late night performances have been phenomenal. Interested in catching them on tour. Hoping they’re small enough still to have cheap tix.

[@sah-win]

They are absolutely fantastic live! If you have a chance you should go. Tickets have been relatively inexpensive so far.

[@thehaymaker3660]

Saw these girls last year at a festival and they were just electric, highly recommend! I'm glad they're finding the success they deserve :D

[@hectordied]

YESSSS

[@emomu]

I didn't expect you'd love it, but well-deserved score! It sounds like BCNR instrumentation with Marina-esque vocals, for a lack of better words.

[@goldie481]

Although I know they come from the same scene. I really can't hear any resemblance to BCNR lol 😶Agree about Marina though!

[@AlejandroPereda21]

HOLY JESUS, HE HAS THE YELLOW FLANNEL, THIS IS NOT A SIMULACRUM, I REPEAT: THIS IS NOT A SIMULACRUM!!

[@codyross59]

LETS GOOOOO

[@calsipher]

someone needs to sample the beginning of this video

[@fergonfiction6889]

I agree

[@greekalex570]

bass on nothing matters sounds like metronomy